Sunday, April 26, 2015
Shirley Mosby, The Board of Education, The PTOC.........Will it ever end?
It seems that the Shirley Mosby narrative has received more attention than almost any other story coming from our local Board of Education. We have to admit, here at NorwalkSpeaks, that we feel this continuing saga has gone way way way over the top. Now the PTOC is involved. PTOC/Partisan stance? Please weigh in with your feelings.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Two Timely Topics
I propose that we discuss two topics.
TOPIC # 1:
The Board of Education
The Board of Education really has no checks and balances.
The Board is comprised of non-educators who make decisions on curriculum, policies, budgets, hiring, firing and so on. They seem to have the right to hire a superintendent with no real input from the community or from the professional educators on the final choices available. There are no representatives from the community or from the educators who are even privy to the information regarding the finalists. Budgets are voted on by these same folks. The public is invited to hear about budgets, discuss budgets, but the ultimate decision for recommendation belongs to the Board of Education.
Although I am not certain, it appears that foundation grants can be allocated for spending by a select few. Are we, the public and the professional educators, allowed to know how this money is spent? Wouldn't you like to know if there were secret consultants hired (as has been suggested) and what they were paid? All of this seems un-American. Is this the way public schools should operate? Let's have a conversation!
TOPIC #2:
Common Core Curriculum and Testing are very hot topics in New York. I have heard of schools where over 70% of the students opted out of testing. Did you know you could have your child opt out of testing?
I have also heard that, due to Common Core teaching, there are major holes in students' learning. We have a Swiss Cheese education in this country. Teachers must move on with the curriculum even if students don't grasp the concepts. Learning is no longer enjoyable. Teaching is. No longer enjoyable.
Care to comment on these opinions?
TOPIC # 1:
The Board of Education
The Board of Education really has no checks and balances.
The Board is comprised of non-educators who make decisions on curriculum, policies, budgets, hiring, firing and so on. They seem to have the right to hire a superintendent with no real input from the community or from the professional educators on the final choices available. There are no representatives from the community or from the educators who are even privy to the information regarding the finalists. Budgets are voted on by these same folks. The public is invited to hear about budgets, discuss budgets, but the ultimate decision for recommendation belongs to the Board of Education.
Although I am not certain, it appears that foundation grants can be allocated for spending by a select few. Are we, the public and the professional educators, allowed to know how this money is spent? Wouldn't you like to know if there were secret consultants hired (as has been suggested) and what they were paid? All of this seems un-American. Is this the way public schools should operate? Let's have a conversation!
TOPIC #2:
Common Core Curriculum and Testing are very hot topics in New York. I have heard of schools where over 70% of the students opted out of testing. Did you know you could have your child opt out of testing?
I have also heard that, due to Common Core teaching, there are major holes in students' learning. We have a Swiss Cheese education in this country. Teachers must move on with the curriculum even if students don't grasp the concepts. Learning is no longer enjoyable. Teaching is. No longer enjoyable.
Care to comment on these opinions?
Monday, April 6, 2015
Other Topics
What is on your mind? Should we discuss student achievement for a change? Up to you......
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